The Ultimate Soulreach :[Damian Wayne x Reader]

Dipping Into Darkness

Hi guys!

I'm so sorry.

Disclaimer: There is extreme violence.

Enjoy <3

(Y/N) POV: Sunday morning

     I can count on one hand how many times I've woken up before the sun and actually felt happy about it. Today is one of those rare days. As I stretch my arms above my head, sitting upright in bed, I fight the urge to flop back down with my newly limber limbs. The soft, ethereal glow of twilight pools in broken spots throughout the room, casting an otherworldly ambiance.

     Last night, Sam texted that we needed a girls' day, and she was absolutely right. She suggested making a whole day of it, so I planned to surprise her family with an early visit. Sundays are when they gather for breakfast, and they're early risers, so I thought it would be a pleasant surprise. With caution, I pad silently across my bedroom, careful not to disturb the tranquility of this early hour.

     As I get ready, a sense of excitement makes me bounce on my feet while I apply a thick layer of occlusive moisturizer to shield my skin from the harsh winter winds. With just a touch of mascara and lip tint, I feel ready. Bundled in thick wool layers—a sweater, coat, scarf, and hat—I step out of my room.

     Gloved hands and bundled attire can't entirely ward off the tingling chill as I tiptoe toward Bran's office. My steps falter outside his office door, apprehension tingling down my spine. He's always in his office at this ungodly hour, and due to the constraints he's placed on my freedoms, I'm forced to ask permission just to leave the house.

     Oddly, since Thanksgiving, Bran's demeanor has taken an unexpected turn. He seems strangely lenient, if not suspiciously detached. Whenever our paths cross in the house, his gaze holds less malice and something else that eludes my understanding.

     Initially, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, grateful for the reprieve from his hostility. But with each day, my anxiety tightens its grip, feeding off the unnerving nature of his newfound attitude.

     There's a sick part of me that finds a twisted sense of security in his animosity towards me. Now, when I catch glimpses of his guarded and unfamiliar looks, the perpetual knot in my stomach tightens.

     Each glance feels like a veiled threat, an unspoken warning that I struggle to decipher. My heart races in my chest, echoing the mounting tension, as I strain my ears, hoping to glean some insight from the muffled sounds beyond the door.

     Taking a deep breath, I raise my trembling fist to knock on the door, steeling myself for the encounter. The door creaks open, revealing just a sliver of Bran's face. A flicker of something flashes across his face, but it disappears before I have time to comprehend it.

    "Sorry to bother you," I say forcefully demure. "I'm going to spend the day with Sam," I manage to rush out. "If that's okay?" Something deep within me stirs a disquiet that resents asking permission. Something that nags in the back of my mind, whispering at the injustice of it all.

     Bran's features remain inscrutable, a mask I'm most accustomed to. He purses his lips, his one visible eye narrowing as if contemplating my request. The silence stretches, pregnant with anticipation, before he finally speaks, his voice dripping with veiled authority.

     "Fine," he says, his tone clipped and controlled. The whiskey on his breath already singes my nostrils, but I force myself to remain planted in the spot. The word hangs in the air, a double-edged sword that grants me freedom while reminding me of the invisible chains that bind me. I swallow hard, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over me.